WATCH THE VIDEO HERE THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division within its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system. This development was announced in a statement released yesterday by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee. According to Olumekun, the initiative aims to harness the benefits of AI technology while proactively addressing its potential risks to election integrity. The newly formed division will focus on centralising AI governance across the commission, enhancing the effectiveness of current technology assets. He noted that the AI Division will support improved decision-making through data-driven insights, better risk management, and more dynamic voter engagement strategies. “Additionally, it will help reinforce electoral credibility by using predictive analytics, automation, and intelligent safeguards,” Olumekun explained. He described the move as a significant milestone in INEC’s broader reform agenda, particularly in areas that require only administrative adjustments. The commission revealed that its decision followed participation in several continental conferences focused on AI’s influence on elections. These engagements highlighted both the dangers of AI misuse—such as spreading disinformation—and its vast potential in areas like data-driven planning, enhanced service delivery, risk mitigation, and geospatial intelligence for improved logistics and polling unit management. “This step places INEC at the forefront of integrating AI into electoral administration in Africa,” the statement concluded.
INEC establishes AI division to enhance electoral processes
